as in natural foods
US
a piece of food that is meant to be picked up with the fingers and eaten
Waiters offered the guests finger food during the cocktail hour.
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Recent Examples of finger foods
The food shies away from the typical — no crab rangoon here — for finger foods that harken to cuisines outside the South Pacific, like Jamaican style jerk shrimp skewers ($18) and salmon ceviche ($16).
—
Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Use them for serving finger foods, grabbing items from a hot toaster, or serving on a buffet.
—Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 21 Dec. 2025
For example, a traditional caprese salad can be transformed into finger foods by alternating cherry tomatoes, chunks of mozzarella and leaves of basil on skewers.
—Metro Creative Services, Boston Herald, 23 Nov. 2025
For a more relaxed vibe, consider keeping things simple with tasty finger foods and letting everyone settle in for a Halloween movie marathon once the kids return home.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Oct. 2025
Patrons can expect finger foods like wings and dips, healthy options including salads and fish, indulgent pastas and a burger program that Gurland is especially excited about.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Use them for serving finger foods, grabbing items from a hot toaster, or serving on a buffet.
—Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 21 Dec. 2025
For example, a traditional caprese salad can be transformed into finger foods by alternating cherry tomatoes, chunks of mozzarella and leaves of basil on skewers.
—Metro Creative Services, Boston Herald, 23 Nov. 2025
For a more relaxed vibe, consider keeping things simple with tasty finger foods and letting everyone settle in for a Halloween movie marathon once the kids return home.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Oct. 2025
Patrons can expect finger foods like wings and dips, healthy options including salads and fish, indulgent pastas and a burger program that Gurland is especially excited about.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for finger foods
Noun
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Once constructed, the sleeping cabin program will provide wrap-around services, meals and case management services to residents with the goal of transitioning them into permanent housing.—
Hannah Elsmore,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
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The actors ate boxed meals, and the Chinese crew surprised them with a large vanilla cake.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Come for the nightly DJs, come for the succinct menu of highball cocktails, or just come for the Japanese soft serve ice cream.—
Nathanael Gassett,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
30 Apr. 2026
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There will also be special craft cocktails including Mommas Day Off Martini ($14), Peach or Mango Mom-Mosa ($12), Butterfly Effect Elixir ($10) and Farmers French 75 ($14).—
Rod Stafford Hagwood,
Sun Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But they are expected to rise with tightening supplies of fuel and fertilizer.—
Mae Anderson,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
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Weighing between 24 pounds (11 kilograms) and 70 pounds (32 kilograms), the robot supports both external and vehicle-mounted power supplies, balancing endurance with deployment flexibility.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Finger foods.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finger%20foods. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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